Laughable pass mark

President Goodluck Jonathan only last week told us that the country is safe. That such a statement came from the president despite the spate of kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent crimes that have made it impossible for Nigerians to sleep with their two eyes closed was, to say the least, shocking. And, just as we were still trying to put the angst of this sad statement behind us, the president’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaking on behalf of the government, said on Tuesday that the government is winning the war on corruption.

Obviously the president and his party are either living in self-denial or they do not know what they are saying. How can anyone living in Nigeria say that the Jonathan administration is winning the battle on corruption? The question is: is there any battle against corruption under this regime? We are afraid, no.

Indeed, Transparency International (TI) confirmed that much in its current rating, which placed Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt nation in the world. Many Nigerians would readily agree that this is a very generous assessment, given the monumental corruption that has been going on under the nose of President Jonathan, and to which he appears completely clueless.

As a matter of fact, the TI’s rating formed the plank of the criticism of the administration by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The leading opposition party had berated the government for not doing enough to curb corruption. Then, the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, replied that the party was winning the corruption battle. He listed what in his view constituted the party’s efforts in this regard. These included the creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). According to him: “no matter the criticisms trailing their performance, these bodies have posted degrees of successes. Most importantly, these institutions are meant to outgrow partisan practices and given time, become inviolable winnower on the chaff of corruption.”

What Metuh and the PDP seem not to realise is that it is one thing to create institutions, it is another to let them work unfettered. The way things are, none of the bodies can “… outgrow partisan practices …” as expressed by Metuh. They are at best more like extensions of the Federal Government, and whatever degrees of successes they have achieved can hardly be sustained. Perhaps the only time when the EFCC seemed to be serious was in the Obasanjo era; even then, it soon spoilt its record when it abandoned its core duties to begin chasing the perceived enemies of the then president.

The earlier the PDP came out of its shell of delusion, the better. Corruption is not a peculiar Nigerian phenomenon; it is a global challenge. The difference between those other countries and Nigeria is that they punish corruption whereas we hardly do here, especially if it involves fat cows. Indeed, Nigeria is like a haven to corrupt elements. It is true, as Metuh asserted, that the present administration signed the Freedom of Information (FOI Bill) into law. Again, that alone cannot bring sanity to bear unless public officials understand its essence or are forced to do so.

The PDP should stop playing politics with serious issues of governance. It is better to admit that a problem is there and to take concrete measures to solve it than to keep living in self-denial as the president and the PDP have done on the twin issues of security and anti-corruption. Even if the party is incapable of solving the problems, it should be honest enough to so admit. Nigerians would probably understand that than accept to be fooled by the president and his party.

I wonder what made Nigerians to expect so much from the current administration in terms of corruption battle. I think people should have expected this long ago, considering the body language of the President, before his election last year. I had then told some friends that we should not expect much from the President as far as fighting corruption is concerned. Nonetheless, we would not stop praying that God would give the President the much needed courage, or raise someone else, endowed by God with the required boldnesss, to confront this scourge, that has destroyed lives, destinies , ruined homes , dimmed hopes, and sent dead unrepentant perpertrators, to the place where they are awaiting God’s judgement. .

ifeanyi paul

on a more serious note. The media are not helping matters at all. The truth should be told at all times and this must come from the media. Nigeria is our beloved country but things that are happening here dont happen in many other countries. Please we should join hands and clear this trend that is eating up the fabric of this nation. God bless all

Omotayo Oyeyipo

In my opinion, both the President and the PDP are correct. Yes Nigeria is safe as the President said!!! Only the poor masses are unsafe and Nigerian leaders never regarded the poor masses as part-owners of Nigeria. The powers that be are safe, even if they are kidnapped they will be released while their drivers or stewards may die in the process, so Nigeria is safe. The PDP said GEJ government is winning the war against corruption, that is very correct since the government is not fighting any war in the first place. It is only the powerless poor masses that are actually fighting against the government over corruption and the people cannot win, so it is true that the gov. is winning.